Getting started with Unemployment Services for Employers

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) method   for Getting started with Unemployment Services for Employers

1. Select your preferred MFA method

    Authenticator App – Receive authentication codes through an authentication application such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator.  

   Phone (Voice & SMS) – Receive authentication codes through an SMS text to your cell phone or by voice call. 

   Secondary Phone (Voice and SMS) receive authentication codes through an SMS text to your cell phone or by voice call if you do not have access to your primary phone.  

   Note: It is recommended that you set up multiple multi-factor authentication methods to confirm that you can always access your account.  

    

   

    

   After selecting your preferred multi-factor authentication method, click Continue.

2. If an authentication app is being set up:

   1. Open the application on a phone. 
   2. Scan the provided QR code. 
   3. In the Enter Your Code field, enter the verification code. 
   4. Click Continue

   

3. If a phone (voice & text) method is being used:

   1. In the Phone number field, enter the phone number. 
   2. Click Text Me or Call Me depending on whether you want to receive a text message or a phone call with the code. 
   3. In the Enter code or send new code field, enter the verification code received via phone or text. Note: If the text or phone call is not received or the code expires, click send new code. The code must be entered within five minutes of when it was requested.  
   4. Click Verify Code.

    

   

    

4. Set Up Multi-Factor (MFA) Authentication Using a Browser Extension

   Download an Extension

   Users without access to a phone may need to download a web browser extension to set up their MFA for Unemployment Services for Employers. The employer or TPA must be signing up for the first time for access using MFA to complete the below steps and they must indicate they want to sign up with an authentication application.

   If the user is using Google Chrome:

   • Open a search engine.
   • Search for Chrome Authenticator.
   • Click the Authenticator option provided by Google Chrome.

    

   

    

   • Click Add to Chrome.
   • Click Add extension.
   • Proceed to step 1 in the Set up MFA with Extension section.

   If the user is using Microsoft Edge:

   • Open a search engine.
   • Search for Edge MFA Extension.
   • Click Get from Edge Add-ons store. 

    

   

    

   • Click Add extension.
   • Proceed to step 1 in the Set Up MFA with Extension section.

   Note: The screenshots in the Set-Up MFA with Extension section are taken from Google Chrome, but the steps for an Edge authenticator will work the same way. The icons may look slightly different.

5. Set up MFA with Extension

   Some users may have enabled a web browser extension that adds an authentication application directly to their web browser. The below steps can be used to help the employer or TPA set up MFA using the browser extension. Note: The below steps review how to set up an authentication method using the Google Chrome extension. Other authentication extensions may look different, but they will work similarly.

   To set up MFA using the browser extension:

   • Click the Extension (puzzle) icon in the upper right corner of the web browser.

    

   

    

   •  From the menu, click the Authenticator option.

    

   

    

   Note: Some users may have the extension pinned, so it will show by default next to web browser URL field. The icon looks like a QR code.

    

   

    

   • Click the Scan QR Code icon. 

    

   

    

   Note: The user must be on the page with the QR code in order to click this icon.

   • Click and drag the plus icon around the QR code.

    

   

    

   •  Click the OK button. Users can now take steps 1-2 in this guide to open the authenticator application and view the provided code.

    

   

    

   After setting up all authentication methods, you will be redirected to the Single Sign-On Authentication web request.

   If Unemployment Services for Employers successfully links the email address used to register to an existing email address on a DUA employer account, then a message is displayed indicating the setup was successful. Click Submit to complete the setup. You can now log onto Unemployment Services for Employers using the newly established credentials.  

   If the Unemployment Services for Employers system CANNOT successfully link the email address to an email address on a DUA employer account, then a message is displayed indicating the setup was unsuccessful. This means that the email address used for the new login is not associated with an existing DUA employer account. In this instance, you must submit an Employer Designation Form. The form can be accessed using this link: https://www.mass.gov/lists/dua-forms-for-employers.